Western Spotted Frog - Heleioporus albopunctatus
Introduction
This delightful frog is patchily distributed throughout the south-west
zone of Western Australia, and is especially common in the wheatbelt. It
ranges from near Kalbarri in the north, south east of to Morowa, Beacon,
Yellowdine and Esperance. It is not found further south than Rocky Gully
and is not found on the Swan Coastal Plain or higher rainfall zone of the
south coast. Heleioporus albopunctatus is a large frog, with a well
developed, blunted snout and a rounded appearance. It is dark brown to
black in colour, with a number of yellow to cream spots over the width
of its back and sides. The snout is often accentuated by pale white or
yellow lines which run from the nostrils down towards the mouth. Adult
males can be distinguished by sharp black spines on their front feet. Males
are generally smaller than females. Frogs are generally in the size range
of 56-85 mm in length (Tyler et al., 1994).
- Heleioporus albopunctatus, Kellerberrin, WA.
- (Copyright R.Davis, 2001).
-
- More Pictures?
Breeding
This species breeds in winter and autumn, from about April-May to June
(it only calls for about 6 weeks). Breeding in this frog is quite a unique
process After the first winter rains, males start calling from inside their
burrows. These burrows are usually situated alongside streams or seasonal
pools and deafening choruses of frogs can sometimes be heard in autumn.
The call of the Western Spotted Frog is a repetitive “whoop, whoop” which
is quite high pitched. Calling attracts a female to the burrow, whereupon
copulation takes place and 250-700 eggs are laid in a foam nest, in the
burrow (Tyler et al., 1994). The eggs begin to develop in synchrony
with the rising creek or pond, and eventually water spills into the burrows,
washing the eggs out into the open water. This is the stage at which the
tadpoles hatch, and metamorphose into frogs. Hatching takes 10 days to
4 weeks (Tyler et al., 1994). The tadpoles then develop before the
water source dries up, and disperse into the surrounding bushland as juvenile
frogs.
Threats
Although still a common frog, the Western Spotted Frog is under increasing
threat from agriculture. Frogs have severely declined in much of the wheatbelt
due to habitat clearance and salinity. This species is now extinct in most
of the western wheatbelt and parts of the central wheatbelt. It has been
adversely affected by salinity according to studies at the University of
Western Australia (UWA). This species relies on water sources such as lakes
and streams which have become saline in much of the wheatbelt, thus reducing
potential breeding sites. I am currently undertaking my PhD looking at
the effects of salinity and habitat fragmentation on this species in the
wheatbelt of Western Australia. So stay tuned for much more....
References
Tyler, M.J., Smith, L.A. and Johnstone, R.E. (1994) Frogs of Western
Australia. Western Australian Museum, Perth.
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Created by: 10/3/98
Updated: 16/12/01